Origin

People first used strict to mean ‘restricted in space or extent’. The 17th-century philosopher Richard Burthogge wrote in 1675: ‘I am apt to think that Hell is of a Vast Extent, and that the bounds and limits of it, are not so strict and narrow, as the most imagine.’ Other early meanings included ‘tight’ and ‘stretched taut’ before the meaning ‘imposing severe discipline’ developed in the late 16th century. The source is Latin strictus, based on stringere ‘to tighten or draw tight’. Stringent (mid 17th century) and its variant astringent (mid 16th century) are from the same source. See also district